Jamie Quinn Cozy Mysteries Collection

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

It had been a long weekend and Grace had given me a lot to think about. Too much, in fact. Trying to keep myself from curling into the fetal position was a challenge, but I needed to stay upbeat for Aunt Peg. She had no idea what was coming, and I wasn't ready to tell her yet. The only thing keeping me sane was focusing on Adam and preparing for the ordeal to come. And so, first thing Monday morning, I made a phone call.

"Susan Doyle speaking."

The voice on the phone was confident, authoritative. She had a tone that said, 'This better be important, I have no time for nonsense.' She'd only said three words and I liked her already.

"Hello, this is Jamie Quinn, I'm Grace Anderson's friend… "

"Oh yes, Miss Quinn, I've been expecting your call. Grace told me about your cousin's situation. Unfortunately, it looks like the case is moving forward. On a personal note, I'm appalled that the state attorney has decided to prosecute with only circumstantial evidence and no apparent motive, but he's under a lot of pressure to put someone behind bars. Not to mention, there's a lot of publicity to be had," she added wryly.

"So I've heard," I said, feeling my jaw tighten. "I wanted to touch base with you for a few reasons. First, I'd like to know what to expect. My cousin may be twenty-two, but emotionally and socially, he's much younger. Adam is a gentle boy and he'd never hurt anyone; he's just not capable of it. With his Asperger's, he can't handle stress and I'm afraid this is going to destroy him…" I started crying, like I knew I would, and walked over to the kitchen sink to splash water on my face. I had to get a grip.

"I understand, Miss Quinn--Jamie--and I've been thinking about that. Adam will have to go through arrest and booking, but there are some things we can do for him. The state attorney will want a flashy arrest, but we can avoid that if Adam agrees to turn himself in. In addition, because of his Asperger's, I can ask the judge to appoint an attorney ad litem to protect him. Finally, I can ensure that Adam goes straight to court for his initial appearance, without spending any time in jail."

I breathed a sigh of relief--no jail! "How will you do that?"

"I think the state attorney will agree it would hurt his case if Adam had a breakdown in jail and ended up in a psychiatric hospital."

"I'm so glad you're on our side!" I said. "What will happen at the hearing?"

"The judge will determine if there's probable cause for the arrest. If the answer is yes, then he or she will appoint the public defender and set bail."

"That was my next question. How much would the bail be?" I was pacing back and forth between the kitchen and the living room.

"Hard to say. Your cousin certainly isn't a flight risk, but this is a capital crime and it's also a political hot potato. I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises."

"I understand. Just so you know, I'll be the one posting bail. What happens after that?" I had stopped pacing. Now I was chewing my nails.

"An arraignment hearing is usually held within 21 days of the first appearance. At that hearing, Adam will plead not guilty. The judge can revisit the bail at that time. Next, the state attorney reviews the case and decides if there is enough evidence to proceed. If they find enough evidence, then Adam will be formally charged. This must happen within 175 days of arrest." I could hear her talking to someone in the background.

"Thank-you so much. I don't want to take any more of your time, but please tell me what I can do to help…I'll do anything. I'll even make your coffee and sharpen your pencils."

Susan laughed. "What a great offer! Not necessary though. There is something important you can do, if it's within your means. We're on a tight budget over here. If you could hire a private investigator to dig around for information, it might make all the difference. You'll need one willing to stretch the rules, but you didn't hear that from me."

"Of course I'll do it! What kind of information do you need?"

"How about I e-mail you a list later today?" she said.

"Perfect! I can't thank you enough." I said, starting to tear up.

"So much appreciation and I haven't even done anything yet," she said with a laugh. "We'll talk soon, Jamie."

The smile left my face as soon as I hung up. Where was I going to find a dirty private investigator?